Wildebeests

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Wildebeests

• By Cathy Halladin

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Physical Description

• Wildebeests are large, boxy animals with big
  front ends and small back legs.
• They are gray with vertical black stripes
• They have a dark mane and a long tail.
• Both the males and the females have curving horns.

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Food and Diet

• Wildebeests eat grass.
• They eat short grass.
• They must have water every few days.

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Habitat

• Wildebeests live in Eastern Africa.
• They live in open woodland or grassy plains.
• Wildebeests have the largest mammal migration.
  They travel in a 300 mile circle.

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Babies

• Wildebeests have one baby in the spring of the
  year.
• The calves can run within a few minutes of birth.
• Wildebeest nurse their young for six months.

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Predators

• Lions, cheetahs, hunting dogs and hyenas eat
  wildebeests.
• Predators attack the herd during calving season
  when 80 of the herd calves at once.
• Wildebeest babies can run to keep up with the
  herd within 10 days.

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Interesting Facts

• Wildebeests are also called gnu.
• Their Swahili name is nyumba ya montu.
• The bulls are noisy making noises varying from
  moans to snorts.